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May 30, 2027: Join instructor Lingzi for summer in Ili, Xinjiang, limited to five people!2027-05-30 · Linked trip

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May 30, 2027: Join instructor Lingzi for summer in Ili, Xinjiang, limited to five people!
BEYOND THE FRAME / FIELD JOURNAL 01

China

May 30, 2027: Join instructor Lingzi for summer in Ili, Xinjiang, limited to five people!

A photographic expedition

2027-05-30 — 2027-06-07Date timezone: Beijing · Asia/Shanghai
9 days/ 8 nightsTime to create
Up to 5 photographersGroup size

Go beyond the view.

Travel from Yining through Nalati, Kuerdening, Kalajun and Sayram Lake for summer photography of grasslands, forests, canyons and lakes.

01

Light across Nalati grasslands

Spend consecutive sessions around Nalati's alpine and river-valley grasslands and Panlong Valley, capturing changing light.

02

Kuerdening and Kalajun

Explore forest grasslands around Kuerdening, then Tekes, Kalajun and canyon landscapes, with a planned cabin stay.

03

Sayram Lake and Yining streets

Photograph Sayram Lake in the morning and along its shores, then explore Huang Gong Bazaar and city life in Yining.

THROUGH THE LENS

The journey in pictures

Leading photographers: CC P →

Destination illustrations · select a photo to explore

A different way of seeing.

Portrait of CC P

CC P

Specializes in filmmaking, writing and directing, production, planning, documentary photography, portraiture and landscapes. Gold award in the folk customs category of the 4th Asia-Pacific Cup International Photography Art Exhibition. She has extensive experience directing and producing promotional films and documentaries, and leads photography trips within China and overseas each year. Her photography post-production training has included more than 400 sessions and 20,000 participant attendances for organizations including the Futian urban management bureau, the water group, the Nanshan publicity department, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Peking University's MBA programme, the Hangcheng, Xixiang, Yutang and Taoyuan community offices, the Guangming New District Photography Association and the Shenzhen Senior Photographers Association.

A rhythm shaped by light.

Shooting locations, accommodation and transport are subject to confirmation before departure and may change with the weather.

Note: this itinerary is for reference only. Actual arrangements may be adjusted according to local weather, transport and other conditions.

Itinerary dates and text times without their own zone use: Beijing · Asia/Shanghai。Exact times use your selected timezone; dates alone and descriptions such as “morning” are not converted.

DAY 01May 30 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 1: May 30 | Yining City

Plan: airport pickup and check-in; visit urban sights including Kazanqi and Liuxing Street, enjoy the lively night market, and begin your grassland journey. Driving: no long-distance travel; airport pickup takes approximately 20–30 minutes, and drives between city attractions take 15–20 minutes. An easy day throughout.

Accommodation:four-star hotel in Yining City

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 02May 31 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 2: May 31 | Yining City → Nalati Town

Plan: head to Nalati, explore key Sky Grassland locations, watch sunset at Yuanbao Mountain and attend a welcome dinner in a felt yurt. Driving: Yining City → Nalati Town approximately 280 km, 4.5 hours; Nalati Town → Sky Grassland approximately 15 km, 20 minutes.

Accommodation:four-star hotel in Nalati

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 03Jun 1 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 3: June 1 | Nalati Town

Plan: a full day of in-depth photography in Nalati, capturing the grassland’s changing light throughout the day and discovering lesser-known shooting locations. Driving: no long-distance travel; approximately 20 minutes round trip between Nalati Town and the scenic area.

Accommodation:four-star hotel in Nalati

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 04Jun 2 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 4: June 2 | Nalati Town → Kurdening Town

Plan: main highlights are Nalati’s River Valley Grassland and Panlong Valley Road. Pass Sarbulak and Saha’s wild fruit forest to reach Kurdening Town. Driving: Nalati Town → River Valley Grassland approximately 10 km (15 minutes); River Valley Grassland → Panlong Valley Road approximately 5 km (10 minutes); Panlong Valley Road → Nalati Town approximately 15 km (20 minutes); Nalati Town → Kurdening Town approximately 155 km. Total driving time including stops: approximately 4.5 hours.

Accommodation:four-star hotel in Kurdening

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 05Jun 3 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 5: June 3 | Kurdening Town

Plan: experience a private forest kitchen, mushroom picking, horse riding and other activities, watch sunset on the grassland and join a bonfire gathering. Driving: no long-distance travel; Kurdening Town → private forest kitchen approximately 10 km, 15 minutes. No driving is needed within the forest.

Accommodation:four-star hotel in Kurdening

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 06Jun 4 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 6: June 4 | Kurdening Town → Bieke Cabins, Kalajun

Plan: explore Kurdening’s lesser-known hidden landscapes, visit Qiapuqihai, stop at Tekes Eight-Trigrams City and check into Bieke Cabins in Kalajun. Driving: round trip from Kurdening Town to the hidden scenic spots approximately 30 km (50 minutes); Kurdening Town → Qiapuqihai approximately 40 km (one hour); Qiapuqihai → Tekes Eight-Trigrams City approximately 60 km (1.5 hours); Tekes → Kalajun cabins approximately 30 km (40 minutes). Total driving time approximately 3.5 hours.

Accommodation:guesthouse inside Kalajun Scenic Area

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 07Jun 5 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 7: June 5 | Kalajun → Sayram Lake

Plan: visit East Kalajun and Kuerdai Grand Canyon, then drive to Sayram Lake in the afternoon and stay overnight by the lake after touring its shore. Driving: Kalajun cabins → East Kalajun approximately 10 km/15 minutes; East Kalajun → Kuerdai Grand Canyon approximately 10 minutes by cable car; Kuerdai Grand Canyon → Sayram Lake approximately 320 km/five hours including breaks. Total driving time approximately 5.5 hours.

Accommodation:guesthouse beside Sayram Lake Scenic Area

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 08Jun 6 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 8: June 6 | Sayram Lake → Yining City

Plan: morning photography/touring around Sayram Lake, lakeside afternoon tea, then return to Yining City in the afternoon for a farewell dinner. Driving: Sayram Lake → Yining City approximately 145–150 km/2.5 hours including a Guozigou viewpoint stop. Total driving time approximately three hours.

Accommodation:four-star hotel in Yining City

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 09Jun 7 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 9: June 7 | Yining City → Huang Gong Bazaar → Airport transfer

Plan: visit Huang Gong Bazaar, enjoy free time, then transfer to the airport for your return journey. Driving: Yining City → Huang Gong Bazaar approximately 25 km/35 minutes; Huang Gong Bazaar → airport approximately 30 km/40 minutes. Arrangements remain flexible throughout.

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief

Where we stay

Day 1:four-star hotel in Yining City Day 2:four-star hotel in Nalati Day 3:four-star hotel in Nalati Day 4:four-star hotel in Kurdening Day 5:four-star hotel in Kurdening Day 6:guesthouse inside Kalajun Scenic Area Day 7:guesthouse beside Sayram Lake Scenic Area Day 8:four-star hotel in Yining City

Getting there

The instructor's outbound and return flights are: [Round trip from Shenzhen] Outbound: May 30 | Shenzhen–Urumqi / CZ8609 / 11:45 / 17:30 May 30 | Urumqi–Yining / CZ6854 / 18:55 / 20:15 Return: June 7 | Yining–Beijing / CZ8893 / 09:40 / 13:55 June 7 | Urumqi–Shenzhen / CZ3160 / 15:00 / 18:25 [Round trip from Guangzhou] Outbound: May 30 | Guangzhou–Urumqi / CZ6888 / 11:45 / 17:05 May 30 | Urumqi–Yining / CZ6854 / 18:55 / 20:15 Return: June 7 | Yining–Beijing / CZ8893 / 09:40 / 13:55 June 7 | Urumqi–Guangzhou / CZ3104 / 15:30 / 18:40 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website. These services are for reference and do not constitute confirmed group transport. Final services and meeting times await operator confirmation.

Know what is included.

USD 2,759.18 Original CNY 18,480 · Reference rates 2026-09-18 · Frankfurterperson

Platform service fee to be confirmed

Deposit USD 1,493.06 Original CNY 10,000 · Reference rates 2026-09-18 · Frankfurter / person

Included

Hotels: four-star hotels in almost every location (except inside scenic areas);

Meals: hotel breakfasts throughout;

Transport: three participants per off-road vehicle;

Transfers: airport pickup and drop-off on Days 1 and 9;

Admission: itinerary admission tickets and shuttle buses (drive in wherever allowed; where self-drive tickets require competitive booking, we will try to obtain them and use shuttle buses if unsuccessful);

Local services: photography instruction from a local instructor;

Tour leadership: photography course fees for the accompanying instructor.

Complimentary travel accident insurance;

Not included

Long-distance round-trip transportation between your departure city and the destination;

Main meals during the itinerary (the instructor’s meal expenses are shared by participants);

A single supplement applies if a roommate is unavailable or a private room is requested. The amount awaits operator confirmation.

In exceptional circumstances involving force majeure, such as natural disasters, war, strikes, airline delays or cancellations, or consular visa delays, the organizing team reserves the right to cancel or alter the itinerary. Additional expenses, including visa extensions abroad, accommodation, meals, transportation, or adjustments to national airfares, may be charged at expense. We will nevertheless do everything within our ability to minimize participants' losses;

Invoice taxes.

Service fees, supplements, taxes and the final total are subject to written confirmation.

Clarity before departure.

Availability and registration

This website accepts expressions of interest in this trip and does not synchronize the operator's remaining places in real time. Please contact us to confirm group departure, availability, the final quotation and booking conditions.

Cancellation and breach provisions

Before departure, participants and the organizing team may sign a written travel contract or give notice terminating the trip agreement. The contract is legally binding. If termination is requested more than 30 days before departure, excluding day 30, neither party is liable for breach. Days are calculated by subtracting the date the termination notice is received from the departure date; the same calculation applies below. If the organizing team terminates the agreement, all travel fees must be refunded without deducting visa or entry-permit fees. If a participant terminates after a visa or entry permit has been processed or a flight booked, the relevant visa, entry-permit and flight cancellation charges are deducted. The organizing team must refund the travel fees within 5 working days of receiving the termination notice. If either party terminates within 30 days of departure, including day 30, the terminating party bears liability for breach. [Liability of the organizing team] If the organizing team terminates the trip agreement within 30 days of departure, including day 30, it must refund all travel fees without deducting visa, entry-permit or similar charges, and pay compensation according to the following schedule: 30 to 15 days before departure: compensation of 2% of the total trip fee; 14 to 7 days before departure: compensation of 5% of the total trip fee; 6 to 4 days before departure: compensation of 10% of the total trip fee; 3 to 1 days before departure: compensation of 15% of the total trip fee; On the departure date: compensation of 20% of the total trip fee. If this compensation does not cover the participant's actual losses, the organizing team must compensate those actual losses. The organizing team must refund the full trip fee and pay compensation within 5 working days of receipt of the cancellation notice. [Participant liability] Participants terminating the agreement within 30 days of departure must pay the organizing team a business-loss charge according to the following schedule: 30 to 15 days before departure: 5% of the total trip fee; 14 to 7 days before departure: 15% of the total trip fee; 6 to 4 days before departure: 70% of the total trip fee; 3 to 1 days before departure: 85% of the total trip fee; On the departure date: 90% of the total trip fee; If these percentages do not cover the organizing team's actual losses, the participant must compensate the actual losses, up to the total trip fee. After deducting the business-loss charge, the organizing team must refund the remaining travel fees within 5 working days of receiving the participant's cancellation notice.

Trip information

[Registration] Registration for this trip is confirmed upon receipt of the deposit. [Transport] 1. Flights booked by the organizing team are economy-class group tickets. Once issued, they cannot be endorsed to another carrier or refunded. 2. Actual flight, driving and boat travel times on the day apply. 3. Airlines and flight schedules above are for reference only. Changes to flight times may require minor itinerary adjustments; the departure notice takes precedence. [Accommodation] Accommodation is based on 2 people sharing 1 room. We will try to pair solo participants with another participant of the same gender. Participants who do not wish to share, or cannot be matched, must pay the single supplement for a room of their own. [Group meals] We try to choose meals suited to Chinese tastes and ensure that every guest receives an adequate portion. [Photography] 1. Photography activities follow the itinerary. In exceptional circumstances, time spent photographing each location will depend on the actual conditions that day. 2. Please read this itinerary carefully and choose a photography trip suited to your circumstances. If you give up part of the itinerary for personal reasons, including health, or request to forgo accommodation or transport, this is considered voluntary withdrawal. expenses already incurred are non-refundable. You are responsible for your personal safety while not participating in the itinerary. 3. Participants may not leave the group without permission during group photography activities, except during free time. Leaving partway through the trip is considered a breach by the participant. Unused photography activities, meals, accommodation and vehicle services are non-refundable, and the organizing team is not responsible for accidents occurring while the participant is away from the group. 4. If force majeure events such as typhoons or blizzards prevent travel according to the agreed itinerary, additional or reduced expenses following changes will be settled according to the travel agency's actual group operating expenses. [Payment adjustments] the organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if major fluctuations in international oil benchmarks cause substantial increases in fuel surcharges. If the increase is within what we can absorb, the trip fee will not be adjusted. [Departure notice] 1. The departure notice will be sent no later than 1 day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed earlier, we will notify you as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the departure notice, the departure notice takes precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from organizing or arranging optional activities at additional expense, guests wishing to join such activities should contact the service provider themselves for information, payment details and participation. If language difficulties lead you to ask a guide or tour leader for additional assistance, any paid or unpaid help is provided solely in that person's individual capacity, not on behalf of the organizing team or the local receiving agency. the organizing team has no involvement in the expenses, transaction amounts or service standards of free-time activities; guests bear the outcomes themselves.

Fitness, equipment and conditions

Equipment and fitness requirements will be provided by the operator.

USD 2,759.18 Waitlist · person
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